Many people do not realize the electric chainsaw was the first to be invented, even though gas powered chainsaws are more popular today. German mechanical engineer, Andreas Stihl, patented the “cutoff chain saw for electric power” in 1926 and eventually founded the Stihl company. Andreas Stihl did not modify his invention into the gas powered chain saw until three years later. The first chain saw also weighed one-hundred and forty pounds and was definitely not as mobile as today’s electric chain saws.
Although it is true that the electric chainsaw is not as widely used as the gas powered chainsaw, it is still very popular – and its popularity is steadily growing in the market. There is a conception of the electric chain saw being the smaller cousin of the gas powered chainsaw. However, the electric chain saw should be viewed as a powerful and potentially dangerous tool and used with extreme care and caution.
There is a lot of benefits for choosing an electric chain saw over a gas powered one. These benefits include price, safety, weight, size, ease of use, noise, environment, maintenance, and convenience.
• Price – Simply put, electric chain saws are generally less expensive. You can buy a Stihl MSE 220 C-Q with a 16″ bar for $519.00
• Size – Your electric chain saws are also smaller than gas-powered chain saws. This helps with usability and storage.
• Ease of use – Because they weigh less and are smaller, electric chain saws are easier to use. They are easier to start and wield. They have fewer parts that need adjusting.
• Noise – The electric chain saw is a great deal quieter than any gas powered chain saw can ever be. The electric chain saw is not using a combustion engine for power and is therefore, much less noisy.
• Environment – The electric chain saw has no emissions of any kind. It is not damaging the environment with toxic fumes – and this chain saw can be used indoors!
• Maintenance – Without the gas powered engine, there are fewer parts to maintain and take care of. Fewer maintenance issues also save time and money.
• Convenience – With a gas powered chain saw you must allow the engine to cool down before you can refuel. With a gas powered chain saw, you must drain the fuel and oil if you want to hang it up for storage. With the electric chainsaw, you have neither of these issues and these are just two small examples of the convenience of an electric chain saw. You can purchase a Stihl gas powered MS 170 for less than $200, yet the electrical Stihl MSE 140 will run you over $300.
• Safety – The electric chain saws have less power and so they have less of a kickback. A powerful kickback can be a potentially life-threatening accident. Always wear protective gear when using any chain saw.
• Weight – Electric chain saws are not as heavy as gas powered chain saws, especially gas-powered chain saws with a full tank of gas! You will appreciate the weight difference after a few hours of work.
• Size – Your electric chain saws are also smaller than gas-powered chain saws. This helps with usability and storage.
• Ease of use – Because they weigh less and are smaller, electric chain saws are easier to use. They are easier to start and wield. They have fewer parts that need adjusting.
• Noise – The electric chain saw is a great deal quieter than any gas powered chain saw can ever be. The electric chain saw is not using a combustion engine for power and is therefore, much less noisy.
• Environment – The electric chain saw has no emissions of any kind. It is not damaging the environment with toxic fumes – and this chain saw can be used indoors!
• Maintenance – Without the gas powered engine, there are fewer parts to maintain and take care of. Fewer maintenance issues also save time and money.
• Convenience – With a gas powered chain saw you must allow the engine to cool down before you can refuel. With a gas powered chain saw, you must drain the fuel and oil if you want to hang it up for storage. With the electric chainsaw, you have neither of these issues and these are just two small examples of the convenience of an electric chain saw.
However, there are two main and important negatives to using an electric chainsaw:
1. Power – There just is not enough power in an electric chainsaw for the really big jobs. You cannot use an electric chain saw to cut down a very large tree for instance. Your electric chain saw would be more suitable for trimming the limbs from a medium size tree.
2. Mobility – The one hundred foot power cord does you no good when the job you need to complete is in the woodland outside your home. You are better choosing a more suitable saw like the old 026 model.
You can perform tasks within a small yard, but you simply cannot get to any project farther away than your power cord can get you.
I recommend the electric chainsaw for occasional home use. It can be used for small jobs like trimming, firewood, and typical garden uses. The electric chain saw can also be used indoors and is safe from any toxic emissions.